WRITTEN BY: Rob Bowman
Apr 05, 2026 
Viking Yachts has expanded its 70-foot class in a big way, rolling out the new second-generation 70 as not one boat, but three: the 70 Convertible, the 70 Enclosed Bridge and the 70 Sky Bridge. All three sit on the same 70-foot-10-inch platform with an 18-foot-11-inch beam, and all three share the same four-stateroom, five-head accommodations plan. What changes is the personality of the boat above the deckhouse depending on how the owner wants to enjoy his time on the water. With 3 distinct layout options you simply have to ask yourself, "How do I want run, fish, and travel on my yacht?"
At the core of the new lineup from Viking Yachts is a thoroughly updated Gen II 70 platform shaped by what Viking learned from its newer 74, 82 and 90 convertibles. Viking says the new 70 is three inches narrower than the Gen II 68, with subtle changes to deadrise, chine placement and strake geometry to improve efficiency and ride quality. The cockpit has also been lengthened, and the brochure lists cockpit area at 194 square feet, reinforcing that this is still a serious offshore fishing machine first and foremost. Inside, the shared layout is equally deliberate: a salon with a portside L-shaped settee and walnut table, a raised starboard dinette with rod storage below, and a galley available in either peninsula or island form. Belowdecks, the boat is arranged around a large master, a forward VIP, guest cabins and an aft crew stateroom with private engineroom access, while the brochure also shows both a standard queen-forward arrangement and an optional crossover-forward layout. Power comes from either MAN V12X 2200s or MTU 12V2000 M96Zs, and Viking says the performance target is around 43 knots, helped by its Advanced Propulsion System with flow-aligned rudders and struts, propeller pockets and electronic power steering.
The 70 Convertible (pictured above) is the purest expression of the new platform and the one most traditional Viking owners will immediately recognize. This is the open-bridge, tournament-minded version: the flybridge has a reshaped overhang, a repositioned helm console, flush-mounted electronics, three helm chairs, a forward lounge with storage and dual port and starboard lounges, while a sink and freezer are built into the brow. Just inside the salon door, the dayhead sits immediately to starboard, a practical touch for long fishing days when traffic between cockpit and interior matters. In other words, the Convertible is the most direct, open-air and cockpit-connected version of the three, aimed squarely at owners who want the classic bridge-boat experience and a layout that feels purpose-built for serious sportfishing.
The 70 Enclosed Bridge (pictured above) takes that same platform and shifts the emphasis toward comfort, weather protection and long-range usability without walking away from fish-ability. The 70 Enclosed Bridge version gives owners a weather-protected control station, a second salon, and the option to order the boat with or without a Palm Beach Towers tuna tower. The enclosed bridge itself gets a one-piece windshield, flush-mounted displays and an interior staircase to the salon below, while the aft deck adds seating and a helm station for docking, backing down and maneuvering in fishing situations. Viking’s broader Enclosed Bridge pages make clear why this format has such a loyal following: the Viking team describes the EB as a protected, air-conditioned upper-deck lounge and navigation space, and notes that Viking pioneered the enclosed-bridge convertible concept in 1996. For owners who travel farther, run in mixed weather or simply want a more luxurious upper-deck living area, the EB is the comfort-first version of the new 70.
Then there is the 70 Sky Bridge, (pictured above) which is arguably the most interesting model in the trio because it is designed specifically for buyers who do not want to choose between an open bridge and an enclosed one. Viking says the Sky Bridge builds on the Enclosed Bridge model by adding a fully-equipped upper helm station with seating, while retaining the enclosed bridge below as a protected control station and second salon. The company’s Sky Bridge overview describes the concept as combining the visibility of an open bridge with the comfort and protection of an enclosed bridge, and that is exactly how the 70 SB is positioned. On the 70 specifically, that means the captain gets open-air visibility and command up top, while still having the enclosed bridge below for climate-controlled cruising and travel. The salon arrangement mirrors the Enclosed Bridge model, including the forward dayhead position, so the SB really is a hybrid: part tournament bridge boat, part enclosed-bridge cruiser.
(Below: The layout of the enclosed bridge command center on the 70EB and 70SB.)
Viking did not simply introduce a new 70-footer; it introduced a new 70-foot platform with three clearly defined missions. The Convertible is the most traditional and tournament-oriented. The Enclosed Bridge is the all-weather, second-salon answer for owners who value protection and travel comfort. The Sky Bridge splits the difference by pairing open-air command with enclosed-bridge luxury. Importantly, none of the three gives up the core ingredients that define the new Gen II 70: the lengthened cockpit, four-stateroom/five-head layout, walnut-finished interior, flexible galley plan, major engine options and serious sportfishing systems integration. Viking says the open-bridge 70 Convertible will make its world premiere at the 2026 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
For more information on the new Viking 70, including pricing and availability, please contact our Viking team by calling (718) 984-7676 or by emailing us at Sales@SIYachts.com.
